Memorandum device



1964 R. R. TERRELL 3,162,467

MEMORANDUM DEVICE Filed March 11, 1963 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RHY R. TERRELL wi m HTTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1964 R. R. TERRELL MEMORANDUM DEVICE Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i L m T R Wm M T R V! i Y B ATTORNEYS FIG-7 United States Patent 3,162,467 MERIQRANDUM DEVIQE Ray R. Terrell, 2 W. Columbia St, Springfield, Gino Filed Mar. 11, I963, Ser. No. 264,284- Claims. (Cl. 2816) This invention relates to a device for keeping memorandums and in particularly concerned with a device which is especially constructed and adapted for use with French type telephones.

This application contains modifications on the memorandum device shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 208,334, filed on July 9, 1962., and now Patent No. 3,107,927, issued on October 22, 1963. t

The usual telephone used in the United States, for both office and domestic purposes, is the so-called French type, which consists of a base portion that rests on a desk or table and which also has two spaced upright cradle arms upon which the combination transmitter-receiver rests.

Telephones of this type have a finger hole in the base of the telephone into which fingers can be inserted for picking up and moving the telephone. Between the spaced upright cradle arms there is a fiat horizontal surface which forms the writing area for the memorandum device of this invention.

An object of this invention is to provide an attractive, inexpensive memorandum device which can be readily fitted and retained on a French type telephone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for holding a roll of paper and for drawing a strip of paper from the roll over the horizontal surface between the upright cradle arms, in order that a person may make notes thereon while using the telephone.

Another object of the invention is to provide guide members between which the paper from the roll can be pulled and to provide a means for tearing off a strip of the paper when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for replenishing the device with new rolls of paper when necessary and to provide a writing instrumentality with the device in order that it may be sold as a complete unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the memorandum device in a variety of colored materials which suitably match the many colors of todays telephones.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the follow ing specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the first model of this device showing it in place on a French type telephone;

FIGURE 2 is a top view showing the memorandum device with attached writing instrument;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the roll of paper positioned in the finger recess area of the telephone;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the side rail of the memorandum device taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a second modification of this invention showing the memorandum device in position on a French type telephone;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional View taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5 showing the device in position on the telephone and a roll of paper retained in the finger hole area;

FIGURE 7 shows a vertical view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 shows the method of anchoring the chain on the writing instrument; and

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 except it is for a third modification of this invention.

3,162,46? Patented Dec. 22, 1964 Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, FIGURES 1 through 4 will be discussed concurrently since they all refer to the first modification.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown the base It) of a French type telephone. Supported on the base are two spaced upright cradles 11 upon which the transmitter-receiver section of the telephone (not shown) is positioned. The writing area 12 on the telephone is seen to be a horizontal fiat surface extending between cradle uprights 11. Buttons 13 are shown in the extended position which occurs when the transmitter-receiver is removed from the upright cradle support 11.

The memorandum device generally designated 14 is shown in position on the telephone in FIGURE 1. The memorandum device consists of a main body area 21 and side rails or legs 22. As shown in FIGURE 2, the side rails 22 are flared outwardly so that the distance between the outermost points of side rails 22 is wider than the distance between the cradle uprights 11.

When the memorandum device 14 is inserted on the telephone, it is forced downwardly and the side rails 22 frictionally engage the insides of the cradle upright sup ports 11 as shown near the area 15. The side rails 22 have rounded corners 23 and also have downwardly sloping sides 24. Integrally joined and extending between the side rails 22 is a transverse bar 25 which has sloping sides 26 and 27 and which bar also serves as a cutter bar. On the lower edge of side 26 there are ridges or teeth 28 which facilitate the cutting of the paper 39 as it is pulled up against the bar 25.

The main body 21 has an opening 29 therein under which the strip of paper 39 passes. By placing a finger in the recess 29 a sufiicient quantity of paper 39 can be pushed under cutter bar 25 to enable the end of the paper to be grasped and pulled to a sufilcient length for writing a memorandum.

On each side of the memorandum device 14, there is provided a section 30 which is cut from body 21 and which flares outwardly from body 21 to frictionally engage the sides of the upright cradle supports 11 as shown at 16.

Behind the cutter bar 25 there are sloping areas 3t where the side rails 22 join the main body 21. Towards the rear of the main body 21 there is a trough 32 on the top surface of the memorandum device for storing the writing instrument 35 such as a ball point pen or pencil.

This trough 32 is better seen in FIGURE 3. Also shown in FIGURE 3 is a raised section 33 which is provided with a finger recess 34 to facilitate the grasping of the writing instrument 35. The outer edges 33a of raised section 33 taper outwardly as shown in FIGURE 2 to frictionally engage the insides of upright cradle supports. A suitable chain 36 is used to retain the writing instrument 35 on the memorandum device 14 and the chain rests in a suitable recess 34a on raised section 33.

The back of the memorandum device 14 consists of a curved wall 37 which is used to retain a roll of paper 33 in the finger recess area 18. As shown in FIGURE 1, the back wall 37 has cut outs 41 which are sprung outwardly to frictionally engage the insides of the cradle arms in the finger recess area 18. A depending ridge 17 in the finger recess area 18 is used to facilitate the grasping of the base of the telephone by the fingers and is shown in FIGURE 3.

While the roll of paper 38 is shown resting against curved wall 37, the diameter of the roll is small enough to fit under depending ridge 1'7 and to be stored in finger recess 18.

The paper strip 39 is fed from roll 38 in the direction of the arrow as shown. To help guide the paper strip 39 along the underside of the device 14 there are recess gmides 40, shown in FIGURE 4 which appear on the concurrently.

36 is pushed down into this slit.

underside of'side rails 22 and extend backwardly to the inside wall of curved wall 37.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 contain the second modification of this invention and the figures will be discussed The second modification generally designated 54} has many of the features of the modification generally designated 14. The portion of the device extending'from the side rails to cutter bar 25 is the same as the same portion on model 14; therefore, reference can be had to the similar parts in the device 14.

Side sections 30 are also cut out from the main body 62 as shown and are flared outwardly from the main body 62, as are those of the memorandum device 14.

The main body 62. has the same general thickness of the side rails 22 and is slightly more than /8 of an inch.

The edges around opening 29 are sloped downwardly as at51. Towards the rear of the'model 50 there is a trough 52 for storing the writing instrument 35. Rising up from trough 52' there is a ridge 53 which has a recess 54to facilitate grasping writing instrument 35 and also a chain recess 54a. Ridge 53 is aligned with the back section of uprightcradle supports 11 and the unit makes a flush appearance on the back side.-

As best shown in FIGURE 5 there are depending sides 55'which arebeveled on the. inside at 56. In the back portion 57 there is a hole 58 in which chain 36 is suitably anchored. This is accomplished by a chain retaining member 59 which fits into a recess 60 on the bottom of hole 58.

In this modification the roll of paper at is largerthan the roll used in model 14 and does not fit into the finger recess 18. Instead, the roll is retained in the finger recess area 18 by back portion 57 and the depending sides 55.

In FIGURE 7 there are shown paper guide recesses 40 which are a continuation of the notchesor recesses 'l under the side rails 22. These recesses. 40 continue along the underside of model 54) all the way back to the area 63 shown in FIGURE 6.

Chamfered edges for the bevels 56 permit the roll of paper to be readily inserted. It'should also be notedthat the depending sides 55 also flare outwardly to frictionally engage the insides of the upright cradle supports 11 in the area at the back of the telephone base It).

FIGURE 8 shows the writing instrument 35 used in this invention. The length of instrument 35 used in this figure is 'sufficiently short to enablethe instrument to be position between upright cradle supports 11. The body of instrument 35 is slit as shown at 70 and chain This has a tendency to expand the diameter of the instrument 325. A suitable cylinder type cap is placed in the split sleeve to retain the chain on the writing instrument 35.

FIGURE 9 shows a third modification of the memorandum device of this invention generally designated 80. This modification is the same as model 1 4 in all respects except there are depending legs 81 which are suitably fastened on the underside of main body 21 near the trough 32. The legs 81 are sufficiently narrow to permit the strip of paper 39 to pass betweenthem. The legs 81 are resilient and having rising section 82 which bears against depending ridge 17 in the finger hole area 18 thereby helping to retain the device 80 on the telephone base 10.

To install memorandum device 14 on the telephone base the following procedure is used:

The roll of paper'38 is slipped into the finger recess 18 and led over the horizontalsurface 12 of the telephone as shown in FIGURE 1. The .side rails 22 are then squeezed together somewhat and the device is slipped between upright cradle supports 11 to frictionally engage the uprights 11 at areas 15, 16, and in thefinger recess area near cut outs 41. 'When a memorandum is taken, the paper 39 isv simply grasped, turned upwardly and is torn against cutter bar 25. By placing a finger 4 in opening 2? a new strip of paper can be pushed out under cutter bar 25, permitting a new memorandum to be written. a

The installation of memorandum device 50 and its operation are similar to that of model 14. The side rails 22 frictionally engage area 15, the out side sections frictionally engage area 16, and in addition depending side sections 55 frictionally engage the upright cradle supports 11 in the finger recessarea.

To install memorandum device 80, a roll of paper 38 is slipped into finger recess area 18 and a strip 39 is pulled over area 12 on the telephone base 10. The side rails 22 are'squeezed together somewhat and the device 80 is pushed down between the upright cradle supports 11 towards the rear of the base. The device 80 is then pushed forward enabling the legs sl to snap onto dehave been illustrated for affixing the device to the telephone, but it will be apparent that thin pads for example, can be slipped between the memorandum devices and the insides of the cradle supports to increase the frictional retention of the device if found necessary. I

While the specific embodiments of this invention have been made out of plastic material to match todays multicolored telephones, it is understood that'these memoran- 1 dum devices can be made out of other material, such as anodized aluminum, and the like.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in' order to adapt it to different usages and' conditions and-accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such'modifications within this invention as may fall I upstanding cradle arms and a transmitter-receiver adapted for being cradled in said cradle arms, said base having a finger hole area extending therein from the back between said cradle arms, said memorandum device comprising; a one piece main frame having an opening therein, legs attached to said main frame and sprung outwardly to frictionally engage the insides of said upstanding cradle arms, side sections on said main frame sprung outwardly to frictionally engage the insides of said upstanding cradle arms, aback wall integral Wlth said main frame at least partially closing said finger hole area for retaining a roll of paper in said finger hole area, and a transverse bar extending between said legs, for cutting a paper strip from said roll of paper. I Y 2. A memorandum device for a telephone of the type in which there is a base having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding cradle arms, a general horizontal flat area between said cradle arms and a transmitter-receiver adapted'for being cradled in said cradle arms, said base having a finger hole area extending therein from the back of the base between said cradle arms,'said memorandum device comprising; a one piece main frame frictionally retained on said base, said main frame comprising side rails sprung'outwardly, side sections cut from said main frame and. sprung outwardly, a transverse bar joining said side rails, a curved back wall integral with said main frame and at least partially closing said finger hole area for retaining a roll of paper in said finger hole area, notches on the undersides of said side rails and said main frame for guiding a strip of paper thereunder, said main frame having a hole therein to facilitate positioning a strip of paper thereunder, cutting means on said transverse bar for tearing said strip of paper, and a groove in said main frame for storing a writing instrument. 3 a

3. A memorandum device'for a telephone of the type in which there is a base having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding cradle arms, a general horizontal fiat area between said cradle arms and a transmitter-receiver adapted for being cradled in said cradle arms, said base having a finger hole area extending therein from the back of the base between said cradle arms, said memorandum device comprising; a one piece main frame having an opening therein, legs attached to said main frame and sprung outwardly, first side sections partially severed from said main frame and sprung outwardly, a baclr Wall integrally joined to said main frame having second side sections partially severed from said back wall and sprung outwardly, and a cutter bar extending between said legs, said legs and first and second side sections frictionally engaging the insides of said upstanding cradle arms, said back wall at least partially closing said finger hole area for holding a roll of paper therein.

4. A memorandum device for a telephone of the type in which there is a base having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding cradle arms, a general horizontal fiat area between said cradle arms and a transmitter-receiver adapted for being cradled in said cradle arms, said base having a finger hole area extending therein from the back of the base between said cradle arms, said memorandum device comprising; a one piece main frame having an opening therein, egs attached to said main frame and sprung outwardly, first side sections partially severed from said main frame and sprung outwardly, a back wall integrally formed with said main frame and having outwardly tapered sides on the top and side panels on the bottom of said back wall for retaining a roll of paper in the said finger hole area, and a cutter bar joining said legs, said legs, first side sections, side panels and the top of said back wall frictionally engaging the insides of said upstanding cradle arms.

5, A memorandum device for a telephone of the type in which there is a base having a pair or" laterally spaced upstanding cradle arms, a general horizontal flat area between said cradle arms, and a transmitter-receiver adapted for being cradled in said cradle arms, said base having a finger hole area extending therein from the back of the base betv een said cradle arms and a depending ridge in said finger hole area, said memorandum device comprising; a one piece main frame having an opening therein, first legs attached to said main frame and sprung out- Wardly, first side sections partially severed from said main frame and sprung outwardly, a back Wall integral with said main frame for retaining a roll of paper in said finger hole area, a cutter bar extending between said first legs, and retaining means on the underside of said main frame for engaging said depending ridge, said first legs and first side sections frictionally engaging the insides of said upstanding cradle arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 743,996 Urie et a1. Nov. 10, 1903 2,483,522 Bovee Oct. 4, 1949 2,511,771 Pagan June 13, 1950 2,661,961 Mohundro Dec. 8, 1953 2,834,557 Graham May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 231,399 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1925 

1. A MEMORANDUM DEVICE FOR A TELEPHONE OF THE TYPE IN WHICH THERE IS A BASE HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED UPSTANDING CRADLE ARMS AND A TRANSMITTER-RECEIVER ADAPTED FOR BEING CRADLED IN SAID CRADLE ARMS, SAID BASE HAVING A FINGER HOLE AREA EXTENDING THEREIN FROM THE BACK BETWEEN SAID CRADLE ARMS, SAID MEMORANDUM DEVICE COMPRISING; A ONE PIECE MAIN FRAME HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, LEGS ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN FRAME AND SPRUNG OUTWARDLY TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE INSIDES OF SAID UPSTANDING CRADLE ARMS, SIDE SECTIONS ON SAID MAIN FRAME SPRUNG OUTWARDLY TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE INSIDES OF SAID UPSTANDING CRADLE ARMS, A BACK WALL INTEGRAL WITH SAID MAIN FRAME AT LEAST PARTIALLY CLOSING SAID FINGER HOLE AREA FOR RETAINING A ROLL OF PAPER IN SAID FINGER HOLE AREA, AND A TRANSVERSE BAR EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, FOR CUTTING A PAPER STRIP FROM SAID ROLL OF PAPER. 